CHAN: DR Congo’s youthful attack too much for Zambia

Second half goals from Ibrahim Matobo and Horso Mwaku Malanga gave DR Congo their first points at the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) with Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Zambia in Group A action at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

After looking like the more dangerous team in a scoreless first half, the Leopards asserted their dominance in a strong second half performance to complete a successful recovery from their opening match defeat to CHAN co-hosts Kenya.

The DRC continued their struggles to put shots on target in an uneventful first half but regained their composure during the interval. The Zambian defense lost focus in the 51st minute when a long throw-in found burly Congolese striker Jephte Kitambala. The AS Maniema Union player held the ball up and laid his pass into the path of Matobo and the Aigles du Congo playmaker’s shot was too strong for Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza.

Zambia showed little sign of getting back into the match and their defeat was confirmed by another sequence in the 79th minute that demonstrated the Congolese attack’s lethal pace.

After the Leopards won an aerial ball in the midfielder, former Hearts of Oak midfielder Linda Mtanga played an excellent pass into the path of TP Mazembe attacker Oscar Kabwit on the right wing. After drawing three defenders, Kabwit played the ball across to a wide open Malanga who did well to finish first-time.

DR Congo, with three points from two games, now have two difficult fixtures ahead with Angola next in a week’s time. Zambia, making their 2024 CHAN debut on Thursday with a defeat, next face Angola on Sunday.